Leaders transforming aviation, finance, science learning and higher education will take the stage to address fall graduates during four commencement ceremonies Dec. 12-13 at Addition Financial Arena.
Graduates will hear from four esteemed speakers — Lance Lyttle, CEO for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority; Joe Nunziata, CEO for Acrisure Mortgage; JoAnn Newman, president and CEO for the Orlando Science Center; and Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College — whose leadership and impact span some of the region’s most influential industries.
UCF will award more than 6,000 degrees during this fall’s commencement ceremonies, continuing its record-setting momentum in preparing highly skilled graduates for in-demand fields, including engineering, computer science, nursing, and digital and emerging media. The university awards over 18,000 degrees annually, including more bachelor’s degrees in engineering and nursing than any other institution in the state. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida’s economic and population growth.
UCF serves more of Florida’s students than any other university. More than 90% of UCF’s undergraduate students are Florida residents, and most will stay in Florida after they graduate, with 85% of UCF’s new graduates remaining in Florida.
Of all degrees, the College of Sciences will award 25%, with fields like digital media, chemistry and physics. The College of Business will award 15%, including disciplines such as finance and accounting. The College of Engineering and Computer Science will award 15%, representing fields such as aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.
About 54% of the bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, showcasing the university’s commitment to students of all backgrounds. Additionally, about 31% of all bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to first-generation students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.
Commencement Festivities
Held in the Addition Financial Arena, fall commencement will take place Dec. 12-13.
All guests, including children and infants, need a ticket for admission. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate will receive five commencement ceremony tickets when they pick up their regalia packet.
Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed on UCF’s YouTube channel.
Commencement Photo-ops Across UCF
Main Campus
Two photo-ops are available for students to celebrate their accomplishments.
The Reflecting Pond is one of the most iconic spots on campus for grad photos. Strike a pose and make memories Dec. 1-14.
On Thursday, Dec. 11, 2:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.), fall graduates are invited to a photo-op — Grad Walk — within the Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. Graduates are required to register here.
Graduating Knights are unable to take photos at the Acrisure Bounce House Stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.
UCF Downtown
UCF Downtown offers several great locations for unforgettable graduation photos. Here are our top picks of the best spots to memorialize your academic achievement.
Celebrate your college journey by honoring your support system at the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons West Lobby donor wall. Use the iconic phrase, “If you want to go far, go together,” on the donor wall as a backdrop to pay homage to those who helped you along the way.
The Seneff Plaza, located between the East and West Wings of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, is where so many campus events and gatherings take place. The towering columns and reflective glass of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons capture the modern campus where you worked so hard to earn your degree.
Enhance your graduation photos by venturing beyond campus into the surrounding Orlando area. You barely have to step off campus to encounter the iconic Orlando sign locatedat Luminary Green Park. The 2.3-acre park features a large, welcoming lawn that leads up to the oversized “Orlando” letters at the end of the park, creating the ideal environment to mark your time in The City Beautiful.
Commencement Schedule
Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony dates and streaming links:
Friday, Dec. 12
2 p.m.
College of Business Administration
College of Health Professions and Sciences
Friday, Dec. 12
7 p.m.
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Community Innovation and Education (includes the School of Interdisciplinary Studies)
Saturday, Dec. 13
9 a.m.
College of Sciences
Saturday, Dec. 13
2 p.m.
College of Engineering and Computer Science
College of Graduate Studies
College of Medicine
College of Nursing
College of Optics and Photonics
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Commencement Speakers
Lance Lyttle
CEO for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
As chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), Lance Lyttle oversees the operations and management of Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport — two premier gateways to Central Florida, one of the most visited destinations in the world. Both airports are integral to Florida’s transportation network.
Before his role as GOAA CEO, Lyttle held key leadership positions at three major U.S. airports, where he guided significant capital projects and elevated the standard for customer service. As managing director of Aviation for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, he oversaw major milestones including the completion of the N Concourse Modernization, the International Arrivals Facility and the expansion of the Central Terminal. He also advanced significant progress on the C Concourse expansion. Under his leadership, Seattle-Tacoma earned the prestigious 4-Star Airport Rating from international rating agency Skytrax, becoming only the second large U.S. hub airport to receive the designation.
Lyttle also served in leadership roles at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the U.S. by passenger volume, and within the Houston Airport System.
His aviation experience is complemented by his involvement with several professional organizations. Lyttle currently serves on the boards of the International Association of Airport Executives and the Airport Cooperative Research Program. From 2019 to 2024, he was chair of Federal Affairs for the American Association of Airport Executives and testified before the U.S. House and Senate committees on aviation-related matters.
Joe Nunziata
CEO for Acrisure Mortgage
Joe Nunziata is a driving force in the financial industry, serving as CEO for Acrisure Mortgage (formerly FBC Mortgage), one of the nation’s largest independent mortgage banks. His entrepreneurial footprint extends across Central Florida as the founder and director of One Florida Bank, a Central Florida–based community bank; and the founder and director of Trident Reciprocal Insurance, a Florida-based insurance company. He also lends his expertise as a director of FBCInsurance Agency. Nunziata’s leadership has earned him appointments by Governor Ron DeSantis to the boards of both the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and the Central Florida Expressway Authority. He has also served on the boards of several financial institutions, including Sunshine Bank (NASDAQ), Southern Community Bank, Florida Bank of Commerce and Fifth Third Bank of Central Florida (NYSE: FITB).
Nunziata’s career is marked by moments of bold strategy and impactful transitions. After FBC Mortgage was acquired by The Sterne Agee Group in 2012, he took the lead as president and CEO. Three years later, he played a key role in the company’s successful re-acquisition from Sterne Agee in 2015 and guided it through its next era of growth. His earlier leadership roles in his career include serving as senior vice president at First Horizon Home Loans (NYSE: FHN) and vice president and shareholder at American Heritage Mortgage Corp., where he served from 1989 to 2003.
Beyond business, Nunziata is deeply committed to civic engagement and philanthropy. He currently serves on the boards of the Advent Health Foundation; the Orlando Police, Seminole, Osceola, Winter Park and Orange County Sheriff Foundations; and the FBC Mortgage Charitable Foundation. He and his family also operate the Joe and Jodi Nunziata Charitable Foundation, supporting a range of community initiatives.
A Certified Mortgage Banker through the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, Nunziata has served on the MBA’s Legislative Committee, the City of Longwood’s Board of Adjustment and the Florida Council 100. His industry expertise has made him a sought-after commentator for CNBC and Fox News and a frequent speaker at mortgage industry conferences and leadership panels.
Nunziata earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, attended summer courses at UCF and completed sessions at the London School of Economics. His leadership and entrepreneurial achievements have earned him many honors, including Executive of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
JoAnn Newman
President and CEO for the Orlando Science Center
Originally from Pennsylvania, JoAnn Newman holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Penn State University and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University. She began her career as an engineer at AT&T Microelectronics in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and relocated to Orlando with the company in 1989. By the time she left the corporation in 2003, she had risen to vice president of manufacturing, overseeing a 650-person staff.
Newman joined the Orlando Science Center in 2003, bringing her leadership experience to the nonprofit sector. Before being named president and CEO in 2009, she served in key roles, including as director of exhibits, vice president of operations and chief operating officer. Under her leadership as CEO, the Orlando Science Center has seen tremendous growth and now reaches more than 650,000 people annually through its mission to inspire science learning for all.
Newman remains dedicated to guiding the Orlando Science Center as a premier educational institution focused on informal science and STEM education, family engagement and workforce development.
Kathleen Plinske
President of Valencia College
Kathleen Plinske serves as president of Valencia College in Orlando. A first-generation college graduate, she’s committed to expanding access to higher education and workforce training.
Plinske previously held several leadership roles at Valencia College, including executive vice president and provost, as well as campus president. She began her higher education career at McHenry County College in her hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois, where she advanced through multiple positions, ultimately serving as vice president of institutional effectiveness and interim president.
A Herman B Wells Scholar at Indiana University, Plinske graduated with the highest distinction, earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and physics and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Spanish from Roosevelt University and a doctorate in education from Pepperdine University — all while working full-time. She later earned both a master of business administration and a master of science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida.
An avid lifelong learner, Plinske is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in philanthropy at Indiana University, where her research focuses on improving fundraising success within the community college sector.
For more details and FAQs about Fall 2025 commencement celebrations, visit ucf.edu/graduation.
